PPP, APNU Trade Barbs Over Public Service Pay and Election Promises
By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News
BATH SETTLEMENT, BERBICE – Prime Minister Mark Phillips, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) prime ministerial candidate, delivered a blistering critique of the opposition on Sunday, accusing the APNU+AFC coalition of failing the electorate during its time in office.
Speaking to supporters in Bat Settlement, Phillips described the opposition as “a bunch of jokers” who made promises, secured votes, and then “screwed you without grease” once in government.
He cited what he called broken promises from the APNU+AFC administration, pointing to a pledge to raise public servants’ salaries by 20% in 400 days, contrasted with a 50% salary increase for ministers within the first 100 days.
While the coalition did raise public service wages by as much as 77% during its term, compared to the 39.5% increase under the current administration over the past five years of oil revenues, Phillips urged voters to reject APNU+AFC’s latest promises of a higher income tax threshold, a $200,000 minimum wage, and a 35% public service salary hike if elected.
“This is the time we must say no more, not again to the APNU. No more, not again,” the prime minister told the crowd.
APNU Responds
APNU vice-presidential candidate Ganesh Mahipaul fired back, suggesting the prime minister’s criticism was ironic given his own career trajectory.
“When we came to power in 2015, he was a member of the Guyana Defence Force and moved to the rank of Chief of Staff, receiving a hefty salary and benefiting from the increases we gave to public servants,” Mahipaul said. “If that is what he calls screwing without grease, then maybe it was something good for him.”
Mahipaul also defended the coalition’s record, citing the doubling of the minimum wage from $35,000 to $70,000, moving sweeper cleaners onto the pensionable establishment, and providing annual bonuses.
The APNU+AFC’s manifesto pledges include raising the income tax threshold to $400,000, increasing the minimum wage to $200,000, and granting public servants a 35% salary increase.
